"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

- Marcel Proust

Bubba Jack
Bebe Jeke
Baby Jakey
Baby J-cup

AT 4 months old, Jacob Kyle:

Always….

Laughs when you nibble his chin

Laughs when you talk “baby-talk” to him

Laughs when Jenna sings to him

Laughs when you say “BOO!”

Sometimes….

Pulls my hair when I’m feeding him

Cries when he’s really, really tired

Sticks his bottom lip out if you pretend to cry

Never……

Turns down a bottle

Wants to fuss

Forgets to smile when you say his name

Makes me feel anything but blessed….

I've never met a happier baby; thus, I have never felt this truly happy.

Thank you, charming gardener.

.....stream of consciousness.....

I feel I shouldn’t write this all down, but I am.

I don’t think I’ll publish it.

But you know I will.

I woke up this morning conflicted, but then sorted it out in my head. I was afraid I was 2 completely different people. Let me admit here that I am certainly 3 or maybe even 4 completely different people….but I always thought I had religion and politics figured out. I am a Christian and I am a Republican. Last night, I got a little overheated on Facebook, talking about listening to the cries of the needy.

I was literally close to tears, almost begging this person to see my point of view. I was paraphrasing Daniel verses, I was trying to make them hear me that we have to Give. When I get introspective, I know I’m considered a sucker. I give any change I have to panhandlers. I have been known to give my entire bag of drive-thru food to people on the corner. I see people asleep on the beach and I cry. I really do. Isn’t that niave and childish? I know it is. I know some people are lazy and don’t work because they don’t want to. I know some people on the corner make a thousand dollars a day off people like me.

It’s not pity…it’s just sadness. I can’t explain it. I want to hear people’s cries.
SO last night, as I was lying in bed, I was realizing what a bleeding-heart I am for a Republican. SO then I started thinking, “am I really a republican?” I got very confused and had a ten minute identity crises before I fell asleep.

I woke up with a clear head. I know who I am. I believe in helping. I believe in having compassion and a giving heart. I believe that hard-working people should not have to pay for non-working people’s healthcare. Or their taxes.

I feel that I shouldn’t have to share anything at all because my government tells me to.

I feel that I should share anything I can because my God tells me to.

Okay – and so while I already have open my “annoying box” – can I please ask that you pray for the people of Haiti. This cholera outbreak is not getting any media attention. There is no redcross presence over there. People are sending supplies, but the Haitian government is taxing it 60% and the people can’t get to them. There is no good drainage system. There is sewage in the streets and the pigs are eating it. And the people are eating the pigs. Sorry to take everyone out of the comfort zone, but we need to pray for this situation. I know there are horrible situations all over the world, but this is what’s on my heart.

AAANNNNDD, I’m done.

To make you all still like me and think of me as a fun, normal Mom… I’m adding a post I wrote about a month ago. If you follow any other amateur blogs like this, people were all doing these “Always, Sometimes, Never” blogs. Most people (and by that I mean the only 2 I saw) just did their kids, but I made five of them. One for each kiddo, one for me and even one for Kev. I’ll save them to release one at a time in situations like this (you know – when I publish stream of conciousness that was typed at 4:30 AM?)

At 26 months, Jenna Kate……

Always….

Wants a bow in her hair for school

Wants to know where Gaga and Papa are

Wants medicine

Says, “what dat noise?” whenever there is ANY noise that is unexplained

Says, “you help me?” when she’s trying to climb up on something she’s not supposed to….to reach something she’s not supposed to

Wants to watch Yo gabba gabba, Barney, Satan Caillou, or Nemo. Again and again with the Nemo

Sometimes…..

Wants a binkie really badly

Sings to Bebey Jakey

Insists on wearing boots

Rolls her eyes like a teenager. And if I ignore it, yells “Yook at ME!” and then rolls them again

Never….

Wants to eat veggies

Wants to get out of bed in the mornings

Lets me load or unload the dishwasher alone

Likes the Wonderpets

Makes it easy for me to say No.

"A person should choose a costume that contrasts her own personality."

As promised, a blog full of pictures to make up for the last 2 or 3 blogs that have consisted of only my ramblings.

It should just be entitled “Jenna Kate” – but really, shouldn't most of them? She really understood Halloween this year. Thank you to Dora, Mickey, Caillou, and The Little Einsteins crew for really making it hit home for her. I’m not going to lie that I reinforced every repeated episode with, “what were they doing?...that’s right…getting CANDY!” and a little, “ghosts and skeletons are so FUN and SCARY!!”

I love Halloween. I miss the pre-babies-Halloweens of Creep up to El Campo. Our wild, annual party in Fort Worth. Cristie and I would spend all year buying decorations. Kevin and Fred would spend 3 days covering the house in tarp and webs. It would take us at least 3-4 days to recover from the ridiculous amount of jello-shots consumed.

I’ve really always loved Halloween. The contemplation of costume, the feel of parties at school at work, the complete delirium in knowing you’re going to get a bunch of candy and you’re going to eat it!, and (my personal favorite) the thrill of being scared. I love haunted houses and scary movies. I love when Kevin jumps out at me with a scary mask on – even though I scream and start swinging at him with intent to seriously injure.

I have officially decided, as with most things I have ever loved…I love Halloween more with little people.

Landon has gotten older and hit that stretch of time where, really, all that matters is candy. How much? How much? And How much? The costume is still important, but not as important as the pillowcase used to collect the candy.
But Jenna. She is at the age that makes you step back on Halloween night and say “this is one of those things that makes having kids So. Much. Fun.” She loved every second of it….from the pumpkin carving with her daddy that morning, to the baby-pre-party with her little BF, Milla. I couldn’t even keep up with her at the Trunk or Treat party – she was running up to any and everyone that looked like they had candy and saying Trick or Treat. She would go up to really scary costumes and laugh and say “oooo- ‘cary!!!” A man dressed as some slasher’s victim asked if he could put her in the back of his truck – decorated in skulls and webs and such- to take a picture of the pink little ballerina that was not afraid of anything!

Jenna and Daddy and Elmo - Carving.....

Unexpected photoshoot while Jake was tanning....

Gaga and Papa...

Getting ready with Milla...

My football player....

Trunk or Treat.....

The very first piece:

And she's off:

The Outcome.....

And here are some pictures from the pumpkin patch....but no pics with pumpkins?…..

Sic 'em, Bears!